Pivoted letter box door



Oct. 22, 1935. A. J. CARLSON 2,013,544

PIVOTED LETTER BOX DOOR Filed Aug. 6, 1954 Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

My invention relates generally to a letter box door, especially for rural use.

An object of my invention is to provide a pivoted receptacle for receiving letters and the like,

which can be readily emptied.

A further object of my invention is to provide means associated with the receptacle to indicate at a distance whether there are letters, etc., in the pivoted receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for readily emptying and conveniently grasping the letters in the receptacle.

A further object of my invention is to provide the above mentioned objects-in a construction of such simplicity that it can be manufactured at a very reasonable cost.

With these and other objects in view, my'invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of the various parts of my device whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure l is a front view of the door and receptacle.

Figure 2 is a further front view with the flap raised.

Figure 3 is a front view showing the receptacle in its tipped position.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken medially of the letter box and receptacle, with the receptacle in its normal position.

Figure 5 is a similar view with the receptacle in its tilted position, and

Figure 6 is a side elevation showing the entire mail box with the front end of the receptacle in place.

I have used the character III to designate the mail box itself. (See Figure 6.) The front door 0 of the mail box is represented by the character II, and includes the small snap I2 for locking thereto. The door I I is hinged at the bottom so that larger packages and the like can be placed in the box if desired.

The principal part of my invention, however, is the devices associated with the front door I I.

The rural mail carrier in making his rounds usually must leave his vehicle to look in the mail box and make certain whether there is anything to be mailed. The major purpose of my invention is to enable the carrier to readily determine whether the box contains matter or not. To achieve this end, I provide the receptacle I3 which is pivotally mounted at I4 to the inwardly projecting flanges I5.

This receptacle includes the circular opening I6 in its forward wall H, which opening is covered by the pane of glass I8. The glass can be suitably secured in any manner. 7

The rear wall it of the receptacle is painted black or any such dark color. The end of the door I I also includes a downwardly projecting flange 20 which is integrally attached to the vertical flanges 2I. Pivotally attached, by means of the lengthened pin 22 to the member 23, is the flap 24. The flap 24 includes the projecting member 25. The rear Wall I9 of the receptacle I3 includes the cut away portion 26, which is adapted to receive the portion 25 when the box is tilted in the position as shown in Figure 5.

The flanges 21 are bent slightly outwardly so that the receptacle will be held in this position. The member 23 is suitably afiixed to the front door II by means of the screws 28.

The method of operation is as follows:

The letters are placed in the receptacle I3, 3. letter being represented by the character 29 in Figure 2. The mail carrier in approaching or passing the box looks through the opening I6, and if the opening appears black, this indicates that there is no mail to be picked up. If the carrier wishes to deposit mail the same can be placed in the receptacle or pushed into the box by merely swinging the receptacle out of the way. This would apply to bulkier objects. If there are letters in the receptacle this will be immediately apparent since the black surface will not appear, and the color of the envelope will set out the contrast forcibly.

By merely reaching out his hand the carrier can then push the receptacle up to its maximum position as shown in Figure 5, when the opening 26 will engage the protruding member 25 of the flap 24. The receptacle will then be held in this position for a brief interval and as the letters fall out into the carriers hand and while he is withdrawing the same, his finger or fingers pull slightly upwardly at the point 30'(see Figure 5 The receptacle will then be released at practically the same time that the envelopes are withdrawn out of the same and it will then swing to its vertical position and will be ready for the next operation. This process can take place very rapidly, saving the carrier a great deal of time.

In case it is desired to inform the carrier of other matter such as coins and the like, it would not be apparent in this manner, so I provide the flag 3|, (see Figure 1) which is pivoted at 32 inside of the forward wall I! of the receptacle.

This flag can be painted red or a similar bright 66 color and will be positioned vertically within the receptacle. To indicate to the carrier, however, the fact that there may be something in the receptacle, the flag is swung over so that it will be visible through the opening l6 as indicated in Figure 1. After use it can be pushed back into its vertical position.

It will now be seen that I have provided email box door which has a pivoted receptacle for receiving letters, etc., and which can be readily emptied.

It will also be seen that I have provided means for indicating whether the receptacle includes matter to be removed.

It will be seen further that I have provided the above mentioned means, which provide quick functioning of the members.

It will also be seen that I have provided these characteristics in a construction which is simple in construction and reasonable in the cost of manufacture.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention 7 without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which maybe reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

a 1. In combination with a letter box, a letter receiving receptacle pivoted thereto, said receptacle being pivoted at its upper ends, said receptacle including a forward wall having an opening, transparent covering means attached over the opening, and said receptacle including a rear wall having an inner dark colored surface, a flap adapted to overlie the receptacle when in a vertical position,

said flap including an extended portion, the rear wall of the receptacle having a cut out portion adapted to receive the extended portion when the receptacle is tilted.

2. In combination with a letter box, a letter receiving receptacle pivoted thereto, said receptacle being pivoted at its upper ends, said receptacle including a forward wall having an opening, transparent covering means attached over the opening, and said receptacle including a rear wall having an inner dark colored surface, a flap adapted to overlie the receptacle when in a vertical position, said flap'including an extended portion, the rear wall of the receptacle having acut out portion adapted to receive the extended portion when the receptacle is tilted, indicating means pivotally attached within the receptacle.

- 3. In combination with a letter box, a letter receiving receptacle pivoted thereto, said receptacle being pivoted at its upper ends, said receptacle including a forward wall having an opening, transparent covering means attached over the opening, and said receptacle including a rear wall having an inner dark colored surface, a flap adapted to overlie the receptacle when in a vertical position, said flap including an extended portion, the rear wall of the receptacle having a cut out portion adapted to receive the extended portion when the receptacle is tilted, indicating means pivotally attached within the receptacle, including a brightly colored strip pivoted at its lower end to the inner side of the forward wall of the receptacle and adapted to show through the said opening when moved from its vertical position.

ANDREW J. CARLSON. 

